Mar 06, 2026
3 min read
The Miami Dolphins will eventually have to move on from Tua Tagovailoa and now have the option of a cheap replacement in free agency.
Everyone in the NFL knows that the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are parting ways.There are plenty of reasons why that could be, but general manager John-Eric Sullivan got another one this week.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Arizona Cardinals will release QB Kyler Murray, ending the 2019 first-round pick with the franchise.Since Murray is owed to the Cardinals through 2026, any team looking to sign him would only have to pay the league minimum for a one-year deal.That number?A little over $1.3 million.
The same will be true for Tagovailoa when his final release comes, but Murray appears to have plenty more to offer potential suitors this offseason.For a cash-strapped Dolphins team, it could be a cheap way to keep the offense competitive in 2026.
The Miami Dolphins would be wise to give Keller Murray another chance as the starting QB
All the attention in the Dolphins QB search is on Malik Willis, and for good reason.Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley know each other well from his two years with the Green Bay Packers, and Willis offers everything a free agent QB has: accuracy.
The upside, however, appears poised to make people very rich this offseason.Contract projections range from about $20 million per season to more than $30 million, money the Dolphins don't expect in the first year of a full-scale rebuild.With the remaining free agent options that have no real value (or even a very good court, to be honest), Murray could be the next best option.
Even if Murray doesn't return to the level of play that earned him a big raise in Arizona, he'll likely be an upgrade over what Miami got from Govilua last season.The big question is whether the Dolphins feel it's important to add someone like him when they can't compete in 2026.Rolling with 2025 second round pick Kevin Evers would make sense if their goal is just to stay afloat.
If Hefley is determined to try out the best team in his first year, few available options would be better for him than Murray.With a few cheap additions in free agency and a solid first draft class under Sullivan, Miami could win the same number of games in 2026 as it did a year ago.
Fans may scoff at the idea of trying to stay relevant amid a clear rebuild, but NFL players and coaches never want to lose.It's not in your DNA to think about the benefits of a bad season that results in great reflection.And if that's the mindset next season, don't be surprised if Miami is one of the teams linked to Murray following his official release.
